Barely four months into the season, thanking fans for their patience, asking for time, cursing some ill-fortune.

Bemoaning a lack of ­creativity from a team that won the Premier League at a canter, explaining away who – for decades – came to Old Trafford bowed before the first whistle, convincing no one when declaring Manchester United still have a strong chance of retaining their title, David Moyes has many great qualities.

Now, he is having to learn the art of straw-clutching.

There are many mitigating factors in the mediocrity – both in this individual defeat and the average start to the league season. But Moyes is man enough to know he has to be the bullseye for ­critical arrows.

The long-term issues – central midfield and full-back areas – that Sir Alex Ferguson failed to address as he pursued a farewell title were also neglected in the transfer window.

And Moyes’ efforts to find a ­solution to the problems in those positions have been mixed, at best.

In the Premier League at least, the champions are being routinely embarrassed in the middle of the pitch.

Some of Moyes’ decisions within a game have baffled.

Having not trusted Wilfried Zaha with a moment’s Premier League action, he sends him into a critical situation when the experience of Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young seemed to provide more attractive options. And it might have been a bolder move to do without a Robin van Persie, who performed as though half-fit or half-interested…

Of course, this was also a ­frightening postcard of an Old Trafford vista without Wayne Rooney. Never can the need have been keener to make him a contract offer he cannot refuse.

Rooney can write his own payslip after this. But, even without Rooney, United should have had enough to deal with Newcastle.

The reasons they failed should not be emptied wholly on to Moyes’ desk.

There is no explaining, for example, the rotten performances of Patrice Evra and Rafael. Nor can Moyes have expected such a dramatic lack of sophistication in the pairing of Tom Cleverley and Phil Jones.

Of the outfield players, only to living up to the standards demanded by the previous manager.

Standards that were once ­exemplified by Rio Ferdinand.

Watching from the bench yesterday, Ferdinand - during one of the worst halves of football United can have produced in recent times - shared a laugh with Antonio Valencia.

No big deal unless, behind the smiles, you saw a senior player not buying fully into a new regime.

Time will tell on that one. But what is for sure is that this is a team whose confidence in themselves and, by natural extension, the management has become brittle.

And the result is a relatively rare phenomenon... a very good team rapidly turning ordinary.

Halting that is not a job Moyes can truly have envisaged - but it is one that he needs to accomplish quickly.

Because, as he found out when the fourth official held up the board signalling three minutes extra, those following in the master’s footsteps will not get Fergie-time.